Envelop-machine.



No. 627,586. Patented June 27, I899.

' w. s. METCALFE. 4

ENVELUP MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 19, 1898. (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 627,586. Patented June 27, I899. W. S. METCALFE.

ENVELOP MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 19, 1888.)

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. 627,586; Patented June 27,1899.

w. s, METCALFE.

ENVELOP MACHINE. (Application filed Sept. 19, 1898.)

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet '3.

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No. 627,586. Patented June 27, I899.

W. S. METCALFE.

ENVELOP MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 19, 1898.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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rl I I No. 627,586. Patented'lune 27,1899.

- w s METCALFE ENVELOP MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 19, 1898.)

(No Model.)

Witnesses:

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

WILLIAM s. METOALFE, OFHARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.-

ENVELOP-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 627,586, dated June 27,1899. Application filed September 19, 1898. Serial No. 691,322 (Nomodel.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM S. METCALFE, I

of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inEnvelop-Folding Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a mechanism employed in an adjustableenvelop-machine for creasing and foldin g the blanks and pressing thegummed edges, so that they will properly adhere.

Theobject of the invention is to provide a mechanism for creasing andfolding all four of the flaps. of the blanks which is so adj ustablethat avery large number of different sizes of envelops may be rapidlyformed by a single machine.

The mechanism which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings asembodying the invention has a vertically-movable plunger for depressingthe blanks to the folding-table,

stationary creasers that bend up the four flaps when the blanks aredepressed by the plunger, oscillating folders for folding down u pen thetable the four creased flaps of the blanks,

said plunger, creasers, folders, and table be-.

ing adjustable either lengthwise or Widthwise or both lengthwise andwidthwise of the envelops, lifters for raising the, folded blanks, andpushers for advancing the envelops horizontally to rolls that press andpass the envelops to other parts of the machine.

In the Views only so much of an envelop machine is shown as relates tothe creasing and folding of the blanks. Common gum- Ining conveying, anddrying mechanisms may be employed; butv as-these do not form part of thepresent invention and as envelopinachine builders will readilyunderstand their application they are not illustrated or describedherein.

Of the-drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the mechanism withparts cut away to better show the construction. Fig.2 is a verticalsection showing some of the parts in side elevation. Fig. 3 is aplanwith some of the parts removed. Fig. 4 is a front view of thecreasingand folding parts. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of these parts,taken on the plane indicated by the dotted line aa of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 isa plan of the plunger. Fig. '7 is an enlarged plan of the folding bedand flaps, and Fig. 8 is an end elevation of these with parts out insection.

The table 1, which is mounted upon any common legs 2, supports a tubularstandard '3, movable vertically, in which is a column 4, that at itsupperend bears an arm 5. Supported by the outer end of the armand guidedin its movement with the arm by a sleeve 6 is a rod 7, that at its lowerend carries the plunger 8. The sleeve 6 is held toan arm 9, projectingfrom the standard 3 bya bolt and nut 10, and the upper end of the rod orplunger-shank 7 extends through a slot in the arm 5, so that'when thenut is loosened the sleeve,

with the supporting-rod and plunger, may be moved toward and from thestandard. This permits the position of the supporting-rod to be changedso that plungers of different sizes maybe used and the fixed cornersproperly registered .With' the fixed corners of the creaser-box andfolders. A rod 11 connects the arm 5 with a lever 12, that has a roll 13in contact with a cam 14 on the cam-shaft 15.

The rotation of the cam oscillates the lever, which through the rod andarm depresses and raises the plungenFigs. 1 and 2.

The plunger has a plate 16, that is fixed to the supporting-rod orplunger-shank 7 and forms one corner of the plunger, a plate 17, that isheld by a tongue and groove and screwbolts to the plate 16 in suchmanner that when the bolts are loosened this plate, which forms anothercorner of the plunger, may be moved longitudinally of the machine, aplate 18, which forms another cornerandis held by a tongue and grooveand screw-bolt to the plate 17, so that when loosened it may be. movedtransversely thereto, and the fourth cornerplate 19, that is held by atongue and groove and screw-bolt to the plate 16 and when its bolt isloosened is movable transversely of the plunger. To adjust the plungerto the length of the envelops'to be formed, the plate 17 is movedlongitudinally to the required position. As the plate 17 carries theplate 18, this movement of the former moves the latter properly. Theplunger is adjusted to the width of the envelops by moving the plates 18and 19 transversely of the plates 16 and 17, that'support them, and toadjust the plunger both lengthwise and widthwise the plate 17, carryingthe plate 18, is moved longitudinally and the plates 18 and 19 movedtransversely. In this manner the plunger can be adjusted eitherlengthwise or widthwise, or both, and used in forming a large number ofdiiferent sizes of envelops, Figs. 1, 2, and (i.

The blanks are brought singly by any common conveyer beneath theplunger, which is moved downwardly and depresses the blanks past thecreasers to the folding-bed, upon which they are folded into envelops.The creasers are angle-plates arranged to form four vertical corners ofan open box that cooperates with the plunger in creasing the blanks. Theplunger is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 at the upper edge of thecreasers.

The creaser 20 has along its upper edge a flange 21, that rests upon andis secured to a shelf 22, projecting from the conveyer-track 23, thesupport 24 of which is permanently fixed to the stationary plate 25 ofthe foldingbed that is on the table, Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

The creaser 26 has a flange 27, that rests upon and is secured to ashelf 28, projecting from the conveyer-track 29. The support 30 of thistrack is fastened to a slide-plate 31, that forms a part of thefolding-bed. The plate 31 is movable longitudinally of the machine on adovetail way on the stationary bedplate 25 and is provided on its underface with a rack 32, meshing with which is a pinion 33 011 the shaft,having the hand-wheel 34. The rotation of this hand-wheel through therack and pinion moves the slide-plate, together with the conveyer-trackand'creaser 26, so as to adjust them to the length of the envelops to beformed, Figs. 1 and 3.

Projecting upwardly from the conveyertrack 29 and extending over theplunger is an arm 35 with an opening in its upper end. The plate 17 ofthe plunger is provided with a lug 36, which when the plunger is raisedextends into the opening in the arm, so that when the parts are adjustedlongitudinally by the hand-wheel 34 the plunger-plates 17 and 18 will beadjusted with them, Fig. 1.

The creaser 37 has a flange 38, that rests upon the shelf 28; but inthis case the flange is not fastened to the shelf. The support 39 of thecreaser 37 is mounted on a plate 40, that is on a plate 41, which formsanother movable part of the folding-bed. A screwbolt 42 passes throughthe foot of the support 39 and the plates 40 and 41 into a slot 43 inthe slide-plate 31. The plate 41 is also connected with the slide-plate31 by a tongue and groove 44. When the bolt 42 is loosened, theseplates, carrying the creaser 37, are free to be moved transversely ofthe machine ont he slide-plate 31 independently of the creaser 26 toadjust the creaser 37 to the width of the envelops to be formed; but, ofcourse, when the plate 31 is moved by the hand-wheel and rack andpinion, as already described, and the creaser 2G is moved longitudinallyof the machine the creaser 37 will also be moved longitudinaily toadjust it to the length of the envelops, Figs. 3, 4, and 5.

The creaser 45 has a flange 4G resting upon the shelf 22. In this casethe creaser is not fastened to the conveyer-track, but its support 47 ismounted upon a slide-plate 48, which forms another movable part of theadjustable folding-bed. This plate 48 is held to the bed 25 bydovetailtongues and grooves 49, and on the under faces of the dovetailsare rack-teeth, with which mesh pinions 50 011 a shaft having ahand-wheel 51. When this wheel is rotated, the pinions and racks movethe slide-plate 48, bearing the creaser 45 transversely of the machine,so as to adjust it to the width of the envelops to be formed, Figs. 2,3, and 4.

In the back face of an upright portion 52 of the plate 48isadovetailgroove, and fitting this is a dovetail projecting from the edgeof the plate 41, which is movable transversely upon the slide-plate 31and carries the creaser 37. By means of this dovetail connection theplate 41, carrying the creaser 37, while free to be moved longitudinallywith the slideplate 31 and the creaser 26 when the handwheel 34 isturned, will be moved transversely of the machine, with the plate 48 andthe creaser 45, when they are adjusted by the hand-wheel 51, Figs. 2, 3,and 5.

The end folder-flap 53, which extends from front to rear in a singlepiece the full width of the widest envelops to be formed, is hinged to aplate 54, that is secured to the top of the fixed plate 25 of thefolding-bed. A link 55 connects the back of this flap with rockerarms56, that are adapted to be rocked by mechanism (not shown) common inthis class of machines. When these arms are rocked, the flap 53 isoscillated, so as to fold one of the 'end flaps of the blank down uponthe folding-surface 57 of the fixed part 25 of the bed-plate, Figs. 1and 3. The folder-flap at the other end is formed in two parts 58 and59. The former of these is hinged to a plate 60, that is fastened to andis moved longitudinally of the machine with the end slide-plate 31 ofthe bed, and the latter is hinged' to the plate 40, which is movablelongitudinally of the machine with the end slide-plate 31 andtransversely with the slide-plate 41 when that is carried by the frontslide-plate 48. A shaft 61 is loosely connected with the backs of thesewings of the end flap, and connecting this with rocker-arms 62 is anextensible link 63. The arms 62 may be connected in any common mannerwith ordinary means (not shown) for rocking them and causing theflap-wings to oscillate and fold an end of the blank down upon thefolding-surface 64 of the longitudinally-movable slide-plate 31 andsurface 65 of the longitudinally and transversely movable slide-plate41, Figs. 1, 3, and 7. When the set-screw 66, that connectsthe parts ofthe link 63, is loosened, the flap-Wings arefree to be-movedlongitudinally of the machine as the hand-wheel 34 is turned, and theend slideplate 31, carrying the flap-wings, also the creasers 26 and 37and the conveyer-track 29, that is connected with the plunger-plates 17and 18, is moved for adjusting these parts to the length of the envelopsto be formed, Figs. 1, 3, and 7.

The back folder has a rocking bed 67, that is held to the fixedbed-plate 25 by bearings 68, that are adjustable to allow for varyingthicknesses of paper. A rocker-arm 69, fastened to one end of the bed67, is adapted to be connected with any common means whereby the backfolder may be oscillated. Permanently secured to the rocking bed 67 is awing 70, and adj ustably mounted upon the rocking bed is a wing 71 ofthe back folder-flap. The

wing 71 is held in a grooved way by a screwbolt 72, that passes througha slot 73. When this bolt is loosened, the win g 71 may be moved alongthe rocking bed longitudinally of the machine. Secured to the support 30of the adjustable conveyer-track 29 is a block 74 With a curved groove,and fastened to the foot of the Wing 71, so as to project into thegroove, is an are 75. This form of connection causes the'wing 71 to bemoved and adjusted longitudinally of the machine with the conveyertrackand other parts without interfering with,

the oscillation of the folder-flap, Figs. 3, 5, 7, and 8. 1

The front folder has a rocking bed 76, supported by bearings 77, fixedto the front slideplate 18 of the adjustable folding-bed, so that thebed 76 will be moved transversely of the machine-when the hand-wheel 51is turned. A rocker-arm 78, that is adapted to be oscillated by anyordinary means, is attached to the end of this rocking bed, Figs. 4, 5,7, and 8. An extensible flap-wing 7 9 is permanently fastened to the bed76, and an extensible flapwing 80 is set into a groove in the top of theplate and temporarily held in position by a screw-bolt S1. Fastened tothe support 39 of the creaser 37 is a block 82 with a curved groove, andsecured to thefoot of the flapwing 80, so as to extend into the groove,is an are 83. This permits the wing 80 to be oscillated for folding, butrequires it to move longitudin ally of the machine with the creaser 37.

The back folder-flap has a fixed reach and the front folder-flap is madeextensible, so that it can be adjusted to reach to the back flapwhatever the size of the envelops that are being formed, Figs. 1, 4, and5.

In the mechanism shown the front flap folds the front flap of the blankdown upon the surface 57 of the fixed plate 25 and the surface of themovable plate 11 of the bed. Then the back flap folds the back flap ofthe blank over and presses it down on the front flap, so that the gummedportions will adhere. After this one end flap folds down and presses anend flap of the blank. Then the other end flap folds over the other endflap of the blank, thus completing the envelop, Figs. 7 and 8.

On a post 84-, that depends from the table, is a sleeve 85. Alink 86connects this sleeve with a lever 87, that is raised by a spring 88 anddepressed by a cam 89 on the cam-shaft. The sleeve bears ahorizontally-extending plate 90. A vertical plate91 is fixed to one endof the horizontal plate, and a vertical plate 92 (that is broken off inthe drawings) is movably mounted upon the horizontal plate near theother end. These plates 91 and 92 extend upwardly through slots 93 inthe parts of the folding-bed and after a blank has been folded they areraised through these slots, so

as'to lift the folded blank from the foldingbed ,into the plane ofmovement of the pusher,

Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

When the lifter-plates 'are elevated, the movement longitudinally oftheend slideplate'31 causes the movement with it of the lifter-plate thatis loosely supported by the horizontally-extending plate 9, Figs. 1, 2,and 3. v I

Slides 94. are located in ways that extend horizontally in the sidefaces of the conveyertracks 23 and 29, and projecting from these areplates 95. Links 96 connect these plates with rocker-arms 97. One ofthese rockerarms is fixed to the shaft 98, while the other rocker-arm,which is connected with the slide supported by the movableconveyer-track, is loosely mounted upon the shaft 98. A rockerarm 99,fixed to the shaft 98, is through a rod 100 adapted to be oscillated bya cam 101 on the cam-shaft. Fastened to the plates 95 and projectingforwardly are the pusher-fingers 102. After a folded blank has beenraised by the lifter-plates the pushers are moved by the cam andconnections so as to thrust the blank forward until it is caught by thepair of rolls 103, which press and feed the nowformed envelop to otherparts of the machine, Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

The bearings for the'rolls 103 are mounted one above the other on thetransversely-movable plate 48 of the bed. The shaft of the lower roll isprovided at one end with a driving-pulley 104 and at the other end witha gear 105, that meshes with a gear 106 on the shaft of the upper roll,Fig. 4. These rolls revolve continuously and pass the envelops as theyare received from the pushers to a box or to conveyers, as desired,Figs. 2 and 5.

A blank conveyed into position is depressed by the downward movement ofthe plunger past the creasers, which turn up the flaps, to thefolding-bed. After the plunger has been lifted the front folderoscillates and folds down the front flap, and the back folder oscillatesand folds the back flap over and presses it down on the front flap, sothat the gummed parts of these flaps will adhere.

Then an end fiap is folded down and pressed, and afterward the fiy-fiapis folded over, the machine shown being designed for forming envelopsthat open at one end. After the folders have operated the lifter-platesraise the envelop from the folding-bed into the path of the pushers,which then advance the envelop to the rolls.

13y turning the hand-wheel 3% the slideplate 31 of the folding-bed ismoved longitudinally, and when this slide-plate moves thefolding-surfaces GI and of the bed the wings 5S and 59 of the endfolder-flap, the movable wing 71 of the back folder-flap, the wing 80 ofthe front folder-flap, the conveyortrack 29, the creasers 26 and 37, thepusher connected with the movable track, the plunger-plates 17 and 1S,and the movable lifterplate are adjusted simultaneously longitudinallyof the machine, according to the length of the envelops to be formed. Byturning the hand-wheel 51 and moving the plate 48 both wings '79 and 80of the front folder-flap, the wing 59 of the end folder-flap, thefolding-surface 52 of the plate 48, the foldingsurface 65 of the plate41, the creasers 37 and 45, and the rolls 103 may be adjustedtransversely of the machine, according to the width of the envelops.

I claim as my invention 1. In combination with the folding mechanism ofan envelop-machine, a plunger having an operative surface formed by aplate, two plates movably supported by that plate and adapted to bemoved respectively along lines at right angles to each other, and aplate supported by one of the two plates and adapted to be moved atright angles to the direction of movement of the plate by which it issupported, whereby the extent of plungersurface may be varied bothlengthwise and widthwise, substantially as specified.

2. In combination with the folding mechanism of an envelop-machine, aplunger having a plate with a relatively-fixed corner, a plate supportedby the fixed corner-plate so that its corner is movable longitudinallyof the machine, a plate supported by the fixed corner-plate so that itscorner is movable transversely of the machine, and a plate supported byone of the movable corner-plates so that its corner is movable bothlongitudinally and transversely of the machine whereby the distance fromeach other of the corners of the plunger may be varied both lengthwiseand widthwise, substantially as specified.

3. In combination with the folding mechanism of an envelop-machine, asupportingframe, a bearing ad j ustabl y supported by the frame, aplunger-shank movably held by the adjustable bearing, a plate connectedto the plunger-shank, aplate supported by the plate connected with theplunger-shank and movable longitudinally wit-h relation thereto, a platesupported by and movable with the longitudinally-movable plate, and alsomov able transversely independent thereof, and

a plate supported by the plate connected ing-flaps of anenvelop-machine, a creaserbox located above the folder-flaps and havinga fixed corner, a corner that is movable longitudinally of the box, acorner that is movable longitudinally and transversely of the 1 box, anda corner that is movable transversely of the box whereby the areaoutlined by the corners of the creaser-box may be varied lengthwise andwidthwise, substantially as specified.

5. In combination with the adjustable folding-flaps of anenvelop-machine, a creaserbox having four substantially vertical wallsabove the folding-flaps, the parts forming the front wall being movabletoward and from the parts forming the back wall and the partsforming-one end wall being movable toward and from the parts forming theother end wall, whereby the cross-sectional area of the creaser-box maybe varied, substantially as specified.

6. In combination with the adjustable foldingflaps of anenvelop-machine, a creaser-box located above the folder-flaps and formedof four angular parts, one angular part being fixed, one angular partbeing movable longitudinally of the machine toward and from the fixedpart, one angular part being movable transversely of the machine towardand from the fixed part and one angular part being movablelongitudinally of the machine toward and from the transversely movablepart and also movable transversely toward and from thelongitudinally-movable part, substantially as specified.

7. In combination with the folding mechanism of an envelop-machine, anend folderflap formed of a single part, an end folder-flap formed of twoparts that are both adjustable toward and from the single end flap, aback flap formed of two parts, one of which is connected with theadjustable end flap so as to move with it toward and from the single endflap, and a front flap formed of two parts both of which are connectedwith one part of the adj ustable end flap so as to move with it towardand from the back flap while one part of the front flap is connectedwith the adj ustable end fiap so as to move with it toward and from thesingle end flap, substantially as specified.

8. In combination with the folding mechanism of an envelop-machine, anend folderflap held by a plate that is fixed to the bed of the machine,an end folder-flap formed of two parts, one of which is mounted upon aplate movable longitudinally of the machine while the other is mountedupon a plate that is placedupon the lon gitudinally movable plate so asto be moved transversely of the machine, a back folder-flap formed oftwo parts, one of which is mounted upon a plate fixed to the bed of themachine while the other is connected to a plate that is movable uponthefixed'plate longitudinally ofthe machine, and a front folder-flapformed of two parts, one of which is mounted upon aplate that is movabletransversely of the machine while.

, ment transversely of the machine, an end folder-flap of adjustablelength movable longitudinally of the machine, and a front folder-flap ofadjustable length movable transversely of the machine, substantially asspecified.

10. In combination with the folding mechanism of an envelop-machine, anend folderfiap offixed length held against movement longitudinally ofthe machine, an end folderfiap of two parts, one of which is onlymovable longitudinally of the machine and the other is movable bothlongitudinally and transversely of the machine, a back folder-flapformed of two parts both of which are immovable transversely of themachine but one is movable longitudinally of the machine with thelongitudinally-movable end flaps, and a front folder-flap formed of twoparts, both of which are movable together transversely of the machinewith the transverselymovable part of the end flap, while one is alsomovable longitudinally of the machine with such longitudinally-movableend flap, sub stantially as specified.

11. In combination with the folding mechanism of an envelop-machine, anend folderflap formed with a single wing, an end folderflap formed withtwo wings, one of which is mounted upon a slide that is'movablelongitudinally of the machine and t he other is mounted upon a slidethat is movable transversely of the machine and is placed upon thelongitudinally-movable slide, a back flapfolder formed with two wings,one of which is fixed while the other is movable longitudi-' nally ofthe machine, and a front folder-flap that is formed of two wings, bothof which are mounted upon a slide movable transversely of the machinewhile one is also movable longitudinally of the machine toward and fromthe other, substantially as specified.

12. In combination with the adjustable folding mechanism of anenvelop-machine, a folder-bed having a fixed folding-surface, afolding-surface that is movable longitudinally of the machine toward andfrom the fixed surface, and a folding-surface that is movabletransversely of the machine toward and from the fixed and thelongitudinallymovable surfaces, whereby the extent of folding-surfacesmay be varied, substantially as specified.

' 13. In combination with the adjustable folding mechanism of anenvelop-machine, a fold ing-bed having a fixed folding-surface, a surface that is movable longitudinally of the machine toward and from thefixed'surface, said longitudinally-movable surface being formed of twoparts, one of which is also movable transversely of the machine, and asurface movable transversely of the machine, substantially as specified.

14. In combination with the adjustable foldin g mechanism of anenvelop-machine, a folding-bed having a fixed folding-surface, a slidehaving a folding-surface movable longitudinally of the machine upon'thefixed bed, a slide having a folding-surface movable transversely ofthe'machine upon the longitudinally-movable slide, and a slide having afolding-surface movable transversely of the vmachine upon the bed andconnected with the slide that is movable transversely of the machineupon the longitudinally-movable slide, substantially as specified.

15. In an envelop-folding mechanism,a vertically-movable plunger that isadjustable longitudinally and transversely of the machine, a creaser-boxthrough which.the plunger passes, that is adjustable longitudinally andtransversely of the machine, four folderflaps that are adjustablelongitudinally and .transversely of the machine below the creaserbox, abed having a foldingsurface that is adjustable longitudinally andtransversely of the machine below the folder-flaps, a vertically-movablelifter, a horizontally-movable pusher, and connections between theplunger and the creaser-box, and between the creaserbox and thefolder-flaps, and between the bed and the folder-flaps, and between thebed and the lifter whereby the parts are adjustable together,substantially as specified.

16. In an envelop-folding mechanism, in combination, avertically-movable adjustable plunger, a creaser-box that is adjustablelongitudinally and transversely of the machine, folder-flaps that areadj ustable longitudinally and transversely of the machine, a bed havinga folding-surface that is adjustable longitudinally and transversely ofthe machine, connections between the foldin g-bed and folders andcreasers, whereby they may be adj usted longitudinally or transverselyof the machine simultaneously, a vertically-movable lifter, and ahorizontally-movablepusher, substantially as specified.

17. In an envelop-folding mechanism, in combination, avertically-movable plunger that is adjustable longitudinally andtransversely of the machine, a creaser-box that is adj ustablelongitudinally and transversely of IIO' the machine, fonrfolder-flapsthat are adjnsttaneously of the machine, a vertically-movablelongitudinally and transversely of the able lifter, andapusher movabletransversely io machine, a bed having a folding-surface that of themachine, substantially as specified.

is adj ustable longitudinally and transversely r 0f the machine,connections between the fold- TILTIAM ME 1 CALFE ing-bed and folders andcreasers and between Witnesses:

the creasers and plunger,whereby they may be II. R. \VILLIAMS,

adjusted longitudinallyortransverselysimnl- CHAS. D. KING.

